Hair loss in Black women continues to be proven as more than a cosmetic concern. Health, diet, anemia and even hairstyles can all contribute to the condition of our hair and scalp. Data from a new study finds that the most common form of hair loss may be associated with fibroids.

This is huge news, as more than 80 percent of Black women are likely to develop uterine fibroids by age 50. Research published in JAMA Dermatology shows that women who suffer from central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, which causes permanent hair loss and follicle damage in the top crown, are five times more likely to develop uterine fibroids than those. .

The study analyzed the records of nearly 500,000 Black women who were patients at John Hopkins from 2013-2017. The study found that 13.9 percent of women with CCCA also had a history of uterine fibroids compared to only 3.3 percent of black women without the condition.

While many in hair forums and around the web have already assumed the connection, CCCA has not officially been confirmed to have a cause-and-effect relationship with fibroids (or whether they are both caused by the same thing). “The cause of the link between the two conditions remains unclear,” said Crystal Aguh, assistant professor of dermatology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and lead author of the study.

The study encourages doctors to advise their patients with CCCA to get screened, especially if they also suffer from heavy bleeding and pain. Women with this type of scarring alopecia are also encouraged to get screened all other disorders associated with excess fibrous tissue.

While we are all here for a good DIY regrowth serum, if you experience excess shedding or thinning, consult with your doctor or dermatologist immediately.